Tennessee officials are opposing a request by convicted murderer Christa Pike to be moved to a low-security unit while she recovers from a botched execution. State attorneys argued in federal court filings that Pike, 50, is attempting to dictate her own medical care and that her request is inappropriate given her status as a maximum-security prisoner.
Pike's legal team filed an emergency order on October 30 seeking her transfer from the prison infirmary to a specialized unit with other inmates. However, state lawyers countered that Pike has a history of violence, including an attempt to murder another inmate and an escape attempt, making her presence in a less secure area a safety concern. "It should come as no surprise that maximum-security inmates cannot be allowed to roam a separate DJRC housing area that essentially operates as a nursing home," the state's response read.
Pike was scheduled for execution on September 30 but survived after multiple doses of pentobarbital were administered, allegedly with at least 10 needles. She spent days unconscious and in critical condition following the procedure. After a hospital stay, she was transferred to the prison's infirmary on October 9, where she continues to require constant medical care. State lawyers contend that Pike's medical needs necessitate the high level of care available only in the infirmary and asked the judge to deny her transfer request.